Back in early February, I was asked by Burr Oak Tool Inc.′s engineering manager Jim Sutton, to assist with interviews at Trine′s fourth annual Career and Internship Fair. Burr Oak Tool is a design and manufacturing company in Sturgis, Mich., and specialized in large, high–precision production machinery for the air–conditioning, heating and refrigeration industry. Burr Oak Tool employs a number of Trine and Tri–State graduates. We were interested in finding two or three students to serve as summer interns in our engineering department, with the possibility of developing into full–time jobs upon graduation.

The career fair was well attended and we were extremely pleased with the results. We talked with and received more than 20 resumes from well–qualified applicants. It will be difficult to narrow our field. The students presented themselves well, and were prepared, articulate and interested in what we do. Jim and I were so busy during the four hours of the fair that we didn′t eat lunch.

Within the next few weeks, we plan to discuss opportunities with applicants.

We would like to compliment the Trine staff concerning the organization and operation of the fair. We were met at the door, helped with set–up, and checked on regularly. We also met with various administrators. All in all, it was a very pleasant experience.

Trine and Tri–State alumni will be pleased to know that Trine′s tradition of excellence is being upheld. The students we met were of the high standard that we, as alumni, expect.

Sincerely,
Ned Haylett, ′72 ME
Alumni Association Board member

Ned Haylett has been an Alumni Association board member since 2006. He has been employed at Burr Oak Tool Inc. for 40 years, the first 15 years as a project engineer, the remaining time in sales and management. He has served as the vice president of sales since 2001, recently focusing his efforts on sales in the Pacific Rim market. He plans to retire from Burr Oak Tool in June. He serves on the board of the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services organization for St. Joseph, Cass, and Van Buren counties and has taught martial arts in the local school system for 35 years. Ned and his wife, Mary, enjoy travelling and seeing the world.

A stint with the Navy Reserve, work experience at a TV shop and an electrical engineering degree paved the way to success for George Smith, EE ′70,

George Smith joined the U.S. Naval Reserve as a junior in high school. Following graduation in 1962, he earned an associate degree in applied science from DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago and attended Navy Electronic Technician School. For the next two years, he repaired radios and telecommunications equipment at the Naval Security Station in Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico.

When he returned to the states, he was accepted to Tri–State College and took advantage of the GI Bill, which covered some of his college costs. To make ends meet, he worked weekends at Don Wise′s Drive–In Liquors and repaired radios, stereos and televisions at Blaine Arkwright″s TV Shop in Angola.

"The experience gained from working with these Angola businesses helped me prepare for the business world," Smith said.

Smith graduated in 1970 with a bachelor′s degree in electrical engineering. Jobs were scarce then, but his resume and education opened the door to job offers from Motorola and Western Electric Co. Smith′s experience at Arkwright′s piqued the interest of the manager who hired him at Western Electric.

"Tri–State, the U.S. Navy, and my childhood in rural Mishawaka, provided me with the work ethic, leadership skills and technical training that helped me find an excellent career," Smith said.

Smith worked for Western Electric for almost 40 years, staying with the company through name changes with the Bell System divestiture. A fellow Tri–State alumnus from Elkhart, Thomas E. Scoville, BSEE ′71, joined the workforce a short time later. The two remained friends until Scoville′s death a few years ago.

In 1976, Smith applied for and received a direct commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve, where he served 36 years, three of which were on active duty. In 1985, he earned a master′s of business administration and marketing from Illinois Benedictine University.

As a technical manager in the 1980s, Smith was charged with hiring personnel. He called Tri-State′s career placement office and obtained the resume of Keith Cast, BSEE ′85. Cast went on to work for the company. He′s still there today, along with his younger brother, Kris, BSEE ′88.

He retired in 2009 from Alcatel–Lucent Technologies (formerly Western Electric). He then worked as a consultant for ALU until February 2011. He is now fully retired and enjoys gardening, politics, travelling and family.

CrossRoad Engineers, P.C., is putting Trine alumni to work. Of the company′s 14 engineers, eight earned their degrees at Tri-State or Trine. Two of the three company owners, Trent Newport and Greg Ilko, are alumni.

CrossRoad Engineers, P.C., began providing summer internships in 1998. The company uses its internship program as a farm system for hiring graduate engineers. Mark Beck, BSCE ′99, was the company′s first intern and he was hired in 2000. Some recent Trine interns include Dylan Mann, Samantha Willmann and Andrew Herber. Michael Kalberg has also interned with CrossRoad Engineers, P.C., and will be a full–time hire upon graduation.

Since its inception in 1995, CrossRoad Engineers, P.C., has established itself as one of central Indiana′s leading civil engineering firms with a solid reputation for excellence.

When describing CrossRoad Engineers P.C., Chip Charles, president, indicates "We are hard–working, but casual, fun–loving, prompt, thorough, dedicated to clients, loyal to employees and more. We are a firm that you will either want working for you, or you will want to work for."

Chip hits the nail on the head when he mentions loyalty. As Trent Newport, BSCE ′92, and Greg Ilko, BSAE ′94, are perfect examples of loyalty, especially to their alma mater. They provide opportunities through CrossRoad′s internship program and are a vital part of the university′s annual Career and Internship Fair. Let′s take a moment to get to know these TSU alums.

Meet Trent Newport – Click to find out more

Newport grew up surveying with his dad, Thomas, who graduated from Tri–State College in 1964. Following in his father′s footsteps, Newport went to Tri–State, joined the golf team and pursued a civil engineering degree. He joined Kappa Sigma. He was active in intramurals and even served as a DJ for the campus radio station.

He started his job search early, worked with career services and sent out lots of resumes.

"Being active in many things is good for your health and mind and also looks good on a resume. I was treasurer and president of our fraternity, on the golf team, active in the engineering honor society and the first recipient of the outstanding civil engineer student award," Newport said. "Also, I took the FE exam my senior year which I think is a must for civil grads."

Newport went on to join CrossRoad Engineers, P.C., in 1996 and became an owner in 1997. He serves as vice president and director of CrossRoad Engineers, P.C., Field Services Department. He married his wife, Jill, during his junior year of college. They have a daughter Savannah who is a freshman at Ball State University and son, Max, who is 13 years old.

Meet Greg Ilko – Click to find out more

Ilko first learned about Tri–State at a college fair at his high school. Wanting aerospace engineering as his major, he narrowed his selections to TSU, Purdue and Indiana State.

"I was glad to see an opportunity for the aerospace degree at a smaller university," Ilko said. "I visited campus and instantly knew that it was where I was going. TSU was the only school to which I even sent an application. I didn′t even bother with the others."

Ilko met his wife, Marvelle (Nolan), at Tri–State and got married just after graduation. They now have a daughter, Sydney, 14.

While in school, Ilko was a member of Kappa Sigma and was heavily involved on campus. He took advantage of career services and was afforded an opportunity to interview and obtain a summer internship.

"It was also through them that I obtained my first full–time engineering position," Ilko said. "I encourage each intern we have to be sure to get in touch with staff in career services, because they can help out a lot with business contacts and job placement."

Ilko joined CrossRoad Engineers, P.C., in 1997 and became a partner in 2006. He is a vice president and senior project manager, overseeing CrossRoad Engineers, P.C., Site Development Department.

Thank you to the thousands of alumni, parents and friends of Trine University who pledged financial support during the Spring Phonathon. Your unparalleled commitment to the educational excellence of Trine′s students is to be commended. You continue to make Trine University exceptional.

All contributions, no matter the size, help offset the cost of tuition, making Trine a reality for so many students.

If students were unable to reach you during the Spring Phonathon and you would like to update your contact information or make a gift online, please visit www.trine.edu/alumni or contact Sarah Brown, director of annual giving, at browns@trine.edu or 260.665.4316.